Good build quality, fast focusing.

Poor optics, soft at all focal lengths.

I wanted a lens in this range to replace my primes since it would be convenient for travel. I wasn't about to spend big bucks on a Canon, so tried this Sigma. Unfortunately the performance was so poor that I had to return it. Wide open the lens was very soft, and even at f/8 it wasn't as sharp as the Canon zoom. Focusing was a bit quirky but fast. The lens delivered awesome flare. In fact you could create art out of the different types of flare this lens delivers. D*mn flare-monger. I finally returned it since the optics were unacceptable.

Similar Products Used:

Canon 20-35/3.5-4.5, Canon 17-35/2.8, Canon primes, Sigma 15-30

Price, aspherical lens elements so it has very low abberation, quit HSM motor. Internal focussing.

Loos Manuas focussing.

Used on my Canon D10 and 300D, the lens is quit good. The problems with analogue reflex camera's on the edges is no issue for the digital versions. The great aperture of 2.8 is perfect. The HSM motor is very quit, as quit as the original USM canon. On my digital reflexes it is a 27.2-56 mm lens, so everyone with a digital reflex must have such a lens.

Similar Products Used:

Canon EF-S 18-55mm/f3,5-5,6 Sigma 18-35/f3.5-4.5 old model

A must for Digtial SLR's with a cropping factor of 1.6x (such as my Canon 10D) Fast focusing.

Large filter size 82mm, and loose manual focusing.

I have a Canon 10D which has a cropping factor of 1.6x which turns this lens into a 27.2-56mm lens. So a wideangle lens was a must, I invested in the Canon 17-40mmL lens, but I go hiking in the rocks of nevada, and im constantly bumping into rocks, and will not take my 17-40 due to its price, which is why i got the Sigma 17-35. The quailty of the shots are almost the same as my 17-40mm, Ive heard of people having problems with the sigma at the wide end (17mm) but since im using the canon 10d (DSLR) i never really get to see the "full" edges of the glass on the lens, so I cannot comment on it. To me the lens is a must for those needing a wide lens on a DSLR. (ill be trading it in when sigma releases there new 12-35mm later this year)

Customer Service

I have not needed to send it in. (unlike my canon lens) (crossing-fingers and knocking on wood)

Similar Products Used:

Canon 17-40mm L (love it, but expensive)

special effects

sharpness and brightness falloff on corners. Overall no professional handling. For less than the price of this lens you can get the sigma 20mm ex f/1.8 prime; by all means a much better lens

As sample i've included a photo of mine made with the Sigma EX 17-35mm during an architectural expedition in Berlin. (Original on Fuji VELVIA 50, but converted into B/W for sharpness test). I uploaded it on my homepage at www.eftegarie.nl/techtalk/sigma 17-35 ex hsm at 17mm porche berlin.jpg I can agree completely with Andre, from Haarlem, The Netherlands; LIGHTFALLOFF: The Sigma 17-35mm EX HSM has dark corners that only disappear from f/8 and tighter apertures. BUILD QUALITY Although the EX finish is very robuust for it's class, I didn't like the way the focusing mechanism was build; very fragile when on auto focussetting; if you set the focus on auto then you can't hold the lens on the focus ring since that is "clicked into the focus mechanism" and will want to rotate when focussing. So you need to handhold the lens at other places which isn't fun. SHARPNESS FALLOFF: sharpness in the center of field is almost top notch, at 17mm, 35mm and focal lengths in between, but when following the focus path to the corners it gets ashamingly blurrry even at shut apertures. (see my sample photo) PURPOSE: For me personally, the 17mm effect is a nice thing to play with, but the TOY-factor of this lens is very high; due to the extreme distortion one might lose sooner interest in these focal lengths than for example a 24mm, 35, 85 or 50mm... From all pictures i've taken maybe 0,1 % is made by the Sigma 17-35 es hsm. Yes I sold it after a year after I had played enough with the focal length...

Customer Service

not needed

Similar Products Used:

20 mm Sigma EX f/1.8 >> now we are getting some where :)

- lightweight - sharp pictures - great range for a digital that has a 1.4 enlargement factor

- Build quality lacking (tender care needded) - Some distortion at low end (all lens in this range have this) - Requires photographic skill to overcome some limitations

This lens takes sharp pictures. When I first put it on the camera I was impressed with the contrast and color rendition. I shoot it on a Nikon D100. I have thoroughly enjoyed the range it gives me. It has some distortion at the 17 mm end as with any wideangle lens. I get a little barrel distortion there, but it is easily compensated for. The only concern I have for the lens is the feel of it. I use Nikon lens in other situations and they are just better built. I have heard that the Nikon version of this lens is much better but at twice the money. I don't abuse my lenses so it isn't really a huge issue but I must admit I like the smooth positive feel of a quality lens. The bottom line is that, for the money, this lens delivers. My experience is that this lens can be sharp and true to the image you trying to create. The photographer is also a factor. If you know how to shoot to maximize sharpness and set the apeture to maximize saturation you will get beautiful pictures. You will get value for your money here.

Customer Service

None required

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 24-85

17mm

Extreme distortion Light fall of in corners Needs a lot of light to produce acceptable pictures. Overal pictures are too soft, execpt in daylight at f11. Too high priced for such a moderate lens.

I had this lens for almost 3 years untill I finally decided to sell it and get a fixed wideangle lens. Reading a lot of reviews, it comes to me that the experiences with this lens are scaled from enthousiastic to terrible. This can indicate that Sigma produced this lens with a mixed quality. The quality given by my lens was very poor. Tremendous distortion, extreme light fall of and only usable in bright daylight at f11. I wonder what the aspherical technology brings extra into this lens. I replaced it with another Sigma, the 20mm fixed lens, and this lens gives the pictures I wanted from a wideangle. So better to skip this lens from your wish list and investigate for another.

Customer Service

I don´t want to know.

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 20mm

HSM, physical build quality, compactness.

QC, If you try one of these first, it`s unlikely you`ll ever touch another Sigma again which is a shame as they DO make some really good glass

Sigma QC is bad at the best of times but would seem to be at it`s worst with this lens, I have the 28-70 EX DF (good copy first time bar one I tried a while back) which is an amazing lens which performs at F2.8 through most of the range.. I wish I could say the same for the 17-35EX, I have tried four in total - one was soft down the left side, one had serious trouble locking focus (D60 and EOS10QD), on the third, the AF motor made a horrible sound, stopped and then greeted my with a nasty smell and the fourth was soft throughout the range stopped down and useless wide open. I don`t know how I`m going to give a rating for this lens as it would seem that I`ve yet to see a "best" example but my advice is to avoid it like the plague and go for the 15-30EX DG.. the awful 17-35 got HSM, but Sigma`s DECENT lenses (the 15-30, 24-70 and 28-70) did NOT, a missed opportunity for Sigma to make a decent lens in this focal length IMO and a waste of a HSM motor.

Customer Service

Haven`t needed it yet as the 28-70 is fine and I didn`t buy the 17-35..

Similar Products Used:

28-70EX DF (Brilliant alternative to the Canon 28-70L), 24-70 EX (soft wide open but more flexible), 15-30EX (Likely to go for this one if I can`t find a used 20-35L) 28-80 Aspherical Macro (great as

Price, sharpness, weight.

noise, lack of full time focus.

A very good value, good sharpness and moderate distortion for its focal lengths. I couldn't justify the high price of the Canon version for a lens that I use relatively infrequently, but at this price, it makes a good companion to my 28-135 and 100-400 Canons, with a good overlap of focal lengths.

Customer Service

not used

Similar Products Used:

Rented Canon 17-35

Light weight. Cost (basically disposable) Great focal length! Taking pics of the Pyramids and tombs in Egypt, I was able to step in front of all the tourists and get clean shots with not one else in the photo. Can do some really cool distortion effects, especially with a polarizer.

* HSM motor makes horrible sound. (I thought they were supposed to be quite!) * Not very durable. * Filters are outrageous (but that''s with any lens like this). * Looks cheesy. ''EX'' finish is supposed to be premium, but the gold glitter and trim make it look cheap. * Focus ring weak. Easy to accidentally turn it in AF mode, making a horrible grinding sound.

I do a lot of travel and outdoor (backpack) photography and I love this lens for it cost, versatility, and weight. However, I am hard on my equipment... my last trip, I trashed every lens and body I brought (except my Stylus). After about 3 months of hard use, the D-ring and HSM motor failed, so one out of 5 shots, the lens would stop down, but not return open after taking a photo. A little shake and a couple hits on the DOF button would usually fix it... but it got worse as time went on, and it was impossible to fix or replace in Syria. Anyhow, I sent it back to Sigma after 9 months and they fixed it free of charge.

Customer Service

Excellent if it''s still under warranty!

Similar Products Used:

None. Aresnal is 17-35 sigma, 28-105 EOS, 75-300EOS/IS, Stylus Epic. Perfect travel set!

Inexpensive, good looking

Results not very sharp, even examined by naked eye

I received the lens, attached it to my EOS 3 and put in a roll of Fuji Velvia 50. Now I made a test series with the Sigma and my EF 3.5-5.6/28-135 ISM. Well, when I got back the film, I scanned it at 4000 dpi (!) and compared the results. Oops, not good. The Sigma is not very crisp at 17, 20, 28 and 35 mm, even if you close the aperture. So I decided to give it back to the dealer and buy an Canon EF 2.8/20 mm instead.

Customer Service

N.A.

Similar Products Used:

Canon FD 2.8/24 mm, Canon FD 2.8/24-35 mm L, Canon EF 3.5-5.6/28-135 ISM